Our Heritage

Our quest for knowledge and learning begins…

In its early days of economic development, Singapore was in dire need of professional leadership and managerial know-how. In 1964, the Economic Development Board (EDB) initiated the setting up of a professional management institute by spinning off and growing its management training unit. Dr Richard Eu Keng Mun was invited to be its Founding Chairman.

The Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) was started with the social mission of advancing management excellence and developing manpower in support of Singapore’s growth. Since then, SIM has grown in tandem with Singapore, responding and innovating to meet manpower needs at different phases of its development. Today, we are a leading private institution for education and lifelong learning, reputed for our commitment to a high standard of professionalism and quality, and relevance to industry.

1960's

Birth of a national institute to mould business leaders for economic development

Singapore was a newly independent nation with a fledging economy that required strong business leaders.

With a founding grant from EDB, SIM was set up in 1964 to develop professional managers and leaders to marshal economic development.

1970's

Reinforcing foundation for management training and manpower development

Singapore's Government encouraged foreign investments in local economy to fuel growth, resulting in greater demand for higher level training and skills upgrading.

Pioneered and launched three major diploma programmes in management studies, marketing and personnel development.

Successful programmes laid strong foundation for other certificate and degree programmes to follow.

1980's

Transforming the private education landscape in Singapore

With a booming economy and great demand for higher education, SIM leveraged its experience and reputation to radically change the education landscape of Singapore by collaborating with renowned overseas universities such as University of London and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to offer undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes locally.

Launch of signature programmes such as the Annual Management Lecture and The Job of the Chief Executive.

Setting up of in-house training and consultancy services to serve local enterprises and MNCs.

Expanded role to offer socio-professional services through the formation of special interest groups and membership activities.

1990's

Coming of age with MOE's charter to run Open University programmes

Invited by Singapore's MOE to run Open University Degree Programme in partnership with the Open University of United Kingdom in 1992.

Received accreditation by the Open University of United Kingdom and renamed The SIM Open University Centre in 2002 to reflect its new status.

Offered a variety of industry-relevant courses including most noteworthy, degree courses for the skills upgrading of Singapore’s teachers.

2000's

Birth of Singapore’s first private university for working adults

Received MOE mandate to start a private university for working adults – SIM University (UniSIM), the first and only university in Singapore dedicated to adult learners.

Opening of SIM's new headquarters and comprehensive campus on Clementi Road by Dr Tony Tan, Singapore's then Deputy Prime Minister.

Embarked on a new $300m master plan to double current campus size by 2014, with fully wired, state-of-the-art learning and teaching facilities.

2010 and beyond

Geared to support Singapore's next phase of development through education and training

Launch of the inaugural Singapore Management Festival to foster collaborations and stimulate business ideas and solutions.

UniSIM designated by the Government to provide publicly-funded full-time university places and to host Singapore’s third law school. It was later made Singapore’s sixth autonomous university and renamed Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Launch of SIM International Academy and Platform E, new business units which offer Cambridge international programmes and entrepreneurship ecosystem/programmes respectively.